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Good day. This is Hormoz Mogarei, Get Kaizened Incorporated. Application of lean in the academia.
As my late mentor Mr. Jim Rohn used to say, we are all expected to make measurable progress
in reasonable time.
When it comes to academia and universities, it becomes very imperative. Why do we have
to implement lean in universities? Well, there are three reasons or three benefits.
Number one, lean has a very structured approach. Universities are very structured. As a result,
a lean is a good fit for universities and academia.
Two, lean addresses a change management. Universities regularly have to go through different changes
in technology in the textbooks, in material and concepts. So, lean is a good fit again.
Three, lean supports accountability KPIs, accountability key performance indicators
and as a result, if you implement lean in the university, it's a good fit for number
three as well.
Now there are a lot of universities that have change of textbooks and textbooks have included
the lean concept. So that's a promising point that majority of the textbook that I have
taught or noticed have lean as one of their chapters at least included.
Another promising point is that some of the universities have their faculties and leadership
in tune with lean technology and the third promising point is some universities have
actually implemented the lean concepts within the structure of the university. One of the
universities that I teach at, they have implemented or they are in the process of implementing
the lean concept within their structure.
However there are some obstacles as well. One major obstacle is that majority of our
professors are not trained on lean. So as a result, even though their textbooks have
lean included, their professors continue to teach the old stuff and sometimes skip that
chapter, that concept, that notion or if they want to include it, they don't know exactly
how to teach it.
Some universities have enjoyed the benefits of implementing lean and some of the published
information indicates that for example in one instance, a university was able to enjoy
$350,000 reduction in cost of workers compensation in one year alone.
Same university reported that HR transaction processing time was reduced from 45 days to
30 days and contract wait time was reduced on 42 days to 15 days only.
The same university enjoyed a reduction of mailing expense by $100,000 in one year. So
there are staggering numbers that universities have achieved as a result of implementing
lean.
So what are the steps? If you are in leadership of a university, what do you have to do to
join the crowd and enjoy the benefits? One, you as a leader have to create excitement
and urgency to include lean in the curriculum.
Number two is that you need to train and empower your staff and faculty to make sure that they
know exactly what to teach or what examples to use.
Number three, you need to show commitment to lean and commitment to excellence. So you
will continue this as an ongoing philosophy for your university, faculty and students.
Who are going to benefit by implementing lean within your university? Well, the first benefit
will go to the university itself. You will be enjoying a positive advertisement about
your university. You will be leading the pack as one of the few.
The second benefit will go to the industry who will receive and employ your graduates
and the third benefit will go to students. They will become a perpetual learning organism
and they almost will have guaranteed employability if they continue learning lean. I hope to
see you in the journey of lean. Until the next video, so long.